MARK ALMOND/Birmingham NewsAlabama assistant coach Joe Pendry works on the sidelines during the Crimson Tide's season-opening victory over Virginia Tech. Pendry coaches Alabama's offensive line.TUSCALOOSA -- When Nick Saban entered the process of being hired as Alabama's head coach, he naturally touched base with old coaching friend Joe Pendry.

But it was a call for recommendations, not a hire.

"I'm not sure exactly how it came up," Saban said. "But I was talking to him about some other coaches and it just came up that he'd be interested in coming back and just wanted to be the offensive line coach."

Pendry, a 62-year-old assistant coaching veteran, carried an extensive profile that included 19 years of NFL experience and even a stop in the now defunct USFL. He'd coached, at one time or another, quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, offensive linemen and served as an offensive coordinator for three NFL teams in the 1990s.

So it wasn't clear exactly what Pendry's title would be when Saban hired him onto the coaching staff. Steve Marshall, an assistant who carried a background mostly on the offensive line and was recommended by Pendry, left for the Cleveland Browns a few weeks after being hired.

Just like that, Pendry was announced as Alabama's offensive line coach, which has proved to be a pretty good thing for the Crimson Tide. For two years running, Alabama's offensive line has been one of the strengths of the team, fueling a ball-control style offense that has led to a 25-2 record, an SEC title, a spot opposite Texas in the BCS national championship game and a running game successful enough to produce the program's first Heisman Trophy winner.

Before and after winning the award, running back Mark Ingram has often credited his offensive line, which in turn credits Pendry.

"He's a genius," center Williams Vlachos said. "Everybody trusts what he has to say. Everything he says we get out there and do and try to execute. He puts us in the right positions to do the right things. He does a tremendous job of looking at a defense and knowing what our personnel will be able to do to have success against them."

In 2008, behind Outland Trophy-winning left tackle Andre Smith and All-American center Antoine Caldwell, the offensive line's success wasn't all that surprising. In 2009, it has been.

"I think we kind of had a chip on our shoulders, especially in the beginning," Vlachos said. "That's what everybody wanted to talk about."

"We knew the offensive line was going to be a question mark. We're not stupid," Johnson said. "We see the field the same way you all do and we knew we were going to have to replace some quality guys. We knew the only way we were going to be able to do that and get it done was to practice, just go out and work real hard. We worked really hard in the offseason."

Alabama's offensive line hasn't missed a beat. Consider that:

Õ Ingram topped the school's single-season yardage record.

Õ No lineman has had a holding penalty enforced against him since the Kentucky game on Oct. 3.

Õ Alabama has not had a quarterback miss a possession because of injury the past two years.

"They are fundamentally doing a good job and I think that is a credit to each and every one of them in terms of focus and attention to detail that they prepare with and play with," Saban said of his offensive line. "I also think it's a credit to the coaches who work with them to get them to do that. This group does a really good job of preparing for the game.

"They are smart. They play smart and they execute well."

Fellow West Virginia natives, Saban has known Pendry since his early years in high school. Pendry and Saban were mutual friends of Joe Manchin -- who is now the governor of their home state -- and coached together briefly at West Virginia in the 1970s.

During his first year at Alabama, Pendry had started telling friends he was considering retirement after his second season. But when Saban needed him most, Pendry ultimately stayed on to undertake another rebuilding job in 2009. And while other Crimson Tide assistant coaches may have gotten more attention or awards during the program's return to prominence, Pendry's current value is not underestimated by Saban.

Despite his position coach title, Pendry makes the highest salary of any Crimson Tide assistant. He was set to earn $390,000 this season (It will be more than $460,000 with bonuses). Coordinators Jim McElwain and Kirby Smart each made $360,000.

"He's a good teacher. He has a lot of experience," Saban said. "The one thing you can say about our offensive linemen here, they've all made a significant amount of improvement and played significantly well for us."